Paid Internships Overseen by Careers Through Culinary Arts Program

Like many recent high-school graduates, Angel Torres got a job serving ice cream over the summer. But instead of vanilla soft serve, the 17-year-old will be dispensing flavors like "burnt honey" from one of the top restaurants in New York City.

Mr. Torres is one of 85 public-school students spending the summer in some of Manhattan's most elite kitchens, including multiple Daniel Boulud restaurants, Union Square Cafe and...